Overwatch events – all active events in 2026 – Beteja – Gaming News, Reviews & Latest Releases

June 16, 2026: We updated this guide to reflect the arrival of Overwatch Season 3.

What Overwatch events are currently running? Events give you the chance to try out some heroes that you may not use regularly, challenging you to win games by meeting certain requirements. It doesn’t matter if you can repeatedly land headshots as your favorite DPS heroes; you’ll need to be well-rounded to complete all the Overwatch events.

The easiest way to earn in-game rewards and experience points to level up your Overwatch battle pass is by completing event challenges. You typically won’t be able to complete most of the Overwatch events unless you know what the challenges are, which is why this helpful guide should make that process easier.

Current Overwatch events

Here are the latest Overwatch events:

Anima Strike

Anima Strike is an introductory three-week event designed to get you used to new map Neon Junction. Conquer daily and weekly challenges to explore more of Shion’s stomping ground, and with it the Hashimoto, Yokai, and Subway locations. Throughout, you’ll learn of the growing unrest bubbling away beneath the neon-drenched surface.

Of course, lore’s all well and good, but rewards make the world go round. By delving deeper and making choices on branching paths, you’ll be able to rack up over 50 themed rewards. After clearing the main event, you’ll gain access to the prestige path which brings with it, you guessed it, more rewards.

Availability: Tuesday, June 16, 2026 – Monday, July 6, 2026

Excavation Initiative

There’s plenty of treasure afoot in Overwatch Season 3, and Venture’s here to lead the hunt. For the duration of the new Overwatch season, you can earn loot boxes by logging in, completing challenges, winning games, and staying active week-on-week – you know, the usual stuff. There are 17 standard boxes, plus one Epic and one Legendary box to nab, so get going.

Availability: Tuesday, June 16, 2026 – Season end (August 2026)

Past Overwatch events

Here are the past Overwatch events in 2026:

10th Anniversary: May 12, 2026 – June 16, 2026
Hatred’s Reckoning: April 28, 2026 – May 19, 2026
Operation: Grand Mesa: April 28, 2026 – May 5, 2026
Underwatch: April 1, 2026 – April 13, 2026
Project Yorha – March 10, 2026 – March 23, 2026
Conquest: February 10, 2026 – March 17, 2026
Hello Kitty and Friends – February 10, 2026 – February 23, 2026
Showdown Shuffle: January 13, 2026 – January 27, 2026

10th Anniversary

It’s been ten years of Overwatch, and as is the case every year, there’s an event to celebrate the occasion. The main rewards on offer are anniversary loot boxes, featuring recolors of some of the best outfits around.

On June 1, Blizzard announced changes to the 10th Anniversary event, extending the duration until the end of the season. More importantly, the number of challenges you need to complete to unlock a special player title has been reduced from 48 to 38. If you already unlocked all 48 challenges, you will be awarded another player title to reward you for your efforts.

Availability: Tuesday, May 12, 2026 – Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Here are the challenges in the 10th Anniversary event:

Challenge
Description
Reward

Meta Challenge – Answering the Call
Collect 15 Anniversary Loot Boxes
Tracer – 10-Years Cheers

Meta Challenge – Anniversary Ace
Complete 24 Challenges in Anniversary 2026 Event
Player Title – Ten-Year Titan

Meta Challenge – Ten-Year Titan
Complete 36 Challenges in Anniversary 2026 Event
Player Title – :3

Meta Challenge – Decennial Hero
Complete 38 Challenges in Anniversary 2026 Event
Player Title – (/°□ °)/︵ ┻━┻

The Scientist
Complete one game.
1 Anniversary Loot Box

Gonna Be Mei
Complete ten games. Wins grant double progress. Stadium grants double progress.
1 Anniversary Loot Box

Have Mercy
Complete twenty games. Wins grant double progress. Stadium grants double progress.
1 Anniversary Loot Box

Thanks for the Cassidys
Complete thirty games. Wins grant double progress. Stadium grants double progress.
1 Anniversary Loot Box

Hardt To Hardt
Complete fifty games. Wins grant double progress. Stadium grants double progress.
1 Anniversary Loot Box

Decennium Contributor – Repeating

Requires: Hardt To Hardt

Complete ten games. Wins grant double progress. Stadium grants double progress.
1 Anniversary Loot Box

Classic 2026: Offense or Defense
Play five games as any Offense or Defense Hero in Overwatch Classic.
10,000 XP

Classic 2026: Support
Play five games as any Support Hero in Overwatch Classic.
10,000 XP

Classic 2026: Tank
Play five games as any Tank Hero in Overwatch Classic.
10,000 XP

Base Lootbox Reached!
Unlocks at the start of Anniversary: Week 2 if the Base Lootbox was reached via Challenge contributions in the Global Lootbox Charge.
1 Loot Box

Epic Lootbox Reached!
Unlocks at the start of Anniversary: Week 2 if the Epic Lootbox was reached via Challenge contributions in the Global Lootbox Charge.
1 Epic Loot Box

Legendary Lootbox Reached!
Unlocks at the start of Anniversary: Week 2 if the Legendary Lootbox was reached via Challenge contributions in the Global Lootbox Charge.
1 Legendary Loot Box

Adieu, Cherie
Complete one game.
1 Anniversary Loot Box

I’m A Rocket Queen
Complete five games. Wins grant double progress. Stadium grants double progress.
1 Anniversary Loot Box

Glad I Symmet-ya
Complete ten games. Wins grant double progress. Stadium grants double progress.
1 Anniversary Loot Box

Perfect Harmony
Complete fifteen games. Wins grant double progress. Stadium grants double progress.
1 Anniversary Loot Box

Pump You Up
Complete twenty games. Wins grant double progress. Stadium grants double progress.
1 Anniversary Loot Box

Mystery Showdown: Damage
Complete five games as any Damage Hero in Mystery Showdown.
10,000 XP

Mystery Showdown: Tank
Complete five games as any Tank Hero in Mystery Showdown.
10,000 XP

Mystery Showdown: Support
Complete five games as any Support Hero in Mystery Showdown.
10,000 XP

Shimada Bros
Complete one game.
1 Anniversary Loot Box

Tokki In The Club
Complete five games. Wins grant double progress. Stadium grants double progress.
1 Anniversary Loot Box

Old Soldiers
Complete ten games. Wins grant double progress. Stadium grants double progress.
1 Anniversary Loot Box

Sus Rattus
Complete fifteen games. Wins grant double progress. Stadium grants double progress.
1 Anniversary Loot Box

Nuts & Bolts
Complete twenty games. Wins grant double progress. Stadium grants double progress.
1 Anniversary Loot Box

Classic 2020: Damage
Complete five games as any Damage Hero in Overwatch Classic.
10,000 XP

Classic 2020: Tank
Complete five games as any Tank Hero in Overwatch Classic.
10,000 XP

Classic 2020: Support
Complete five games as any Support Hero in Overwatch Classic.
10,000 XP

Hatred’s Reckoning

Celebrate the launch of the new Diablo 4 expansion, Lord of Hatred, with a set of challenges that unlock Diablo-themed rewards. If you want to show off your appreciation for the legendary RPG series, you should check out the latest Overwatch skins to see how Blizzard has transformed heroes like Mauga, Moira, and Lifeweaver.

Availability: Tuesday, April 28, 2026 – Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Here are the challenges in the Hatred’s Reckoning event:

Challenge
Description
Reward

Blood and Ash
Play ten games. Wins grant double progress. Stadium grants double progress.

Weapon Charm – Enraged Mask

10,000 XP

Burning Hatred
Play ten games. Wins grant double progress. Stadium grants double progress.

Weapon Charm – Crab with a Knife

10,000 XP

Ancient Awakening
Play five games. Wins grant double progress. Stadium grants double progress.
Name Card – Blessed Mother

Sanctuary’s Trial
Play five games. Wins grant double progress. Stadium grants double progress.
Player Icon – Inarius’s Helm
Player Icon – Halloween Terror 2023

Evil’s Call
Play five games. Wins grant double progress. Stadium grants double progress.

Spray -Lilith’s Curse

5,000 XP

Twilight Descent
Play five games. Wins grant double progress. Stadium grants double progress.
Spray – Inarius’s Blessing
5,000 XP

Shadow Rising
Play five games. Wins grant double progress. Stadium grants double progress.

Voice Line – Be Beautiful

Voice Line – In the Shadows

Operation: Grand Mesa

Sierra has arrived, bringing the total number of Overwatch characters in the game up to 51. As the chief security officer of Grand Mesa, this event tells the story about Talon’s attack on the watchpoint and how Sierra handled the situation. This event comes with an event pass, with each challenge awarding Event XP which unlocks items on the pass.

Here are the rewards on the Operation: Grand Mesa event pass:

Tier 1: 1 Battle Pass Tier skip
Tier 2: Voice Line – You and me Dorothy
Tier 3: Spray – Anchor’s out!
Tier 4: Player Icon – DoR.O.T.H.y
Tier 5: 1x Epic Loot Box
Tier 6: 1 Battle Pass Tier Skip
Tier 7: Voice Line – Teamwork is worth it
Tier 8: 1 Battle Pass Tier Skip
Tier 9: Name Card – Pop DoR.O.T.H.y
Tier 10: 1x Legendary Loot Box

Availability: Tuesday, April 28, 2026 – Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Here are the challenges in the Operation: Grand Mesa event:

Challenge
Description
Reward

Damage Assessment
Play three games. Wins grant double progress. Playing as Sierra grants extra progress.
50 Event XP

Assign Perimeter Guard
Earn ten eliminations/assists within three seconds of using a movement ability. (Excludes Total Mayhem and co-op)
100 Event XP

Triage
Play ten games queued as All Roles. Wins grant double progress. Stadium grants double progress.
100 Event XP

Sweep and Clear
Play 40 games. Wins grant double progress. Stadium grants double progress.
200 Event XP

Deploy Tactical
Play 30 games. Wins grant double progress. Stadium grants double progress.
150 Event XP

Establish FCP
Play 20 games. Wins grant double progress. Stadium grants double progress.
100 Event XP

Sitrep
Play 10 games. Wins grant double progress. Stadium grants double progress.
50 Event XP

Meta Challenge: Lockdown Protocol
Play 60 games. Wins grant double progress. Stadium grants double progress.
Epic Loot Box

Meta Challenge: Containment
Play 60 games. Wins grant double progress. Stadium grants double progress.
Player Title – Head of Security

Squad Leader